Three way envelope



T, M. MOORE `THREEWAY ENVELOPE Sept. 15, 1931.

Patented Slept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES THOMAS MITFORD MOORE, F TORONTO,ONTARIO, CANADA THREE WAY ENVELOPE Application med october so, '1928.

My invention relates to improvements in three way envelopes, and theobject of my invention is to devise an envelope which may be used threetimes instead of once as in the case of an ordinary envelope or threetimes instead of twice as in the case of an ordinary return envelopewithout being mutilated in any way, leaving the interior surfaces of thegummed surface on the envelope is required as opposed'to two or moregummed surfaces on ordinary return envelopes, all as hereinafter' moreparticularly described.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the envelope opened out.

the envelope when it is being sent for the first time.

Figs. 3 and 4 are the second and third steps respectively. Fig. 5represents the irst step in folding 3o the envelope when it is beingreturned to the-sender. f

Figs. 6 and 7 are the second and third steps respectively. 'o p Fig. 8represents the first step in folding the envelope when it is being sentagain to the person to whom it was addressed in theV vfirst place.

Figs. 9 and 10 are the second and third steps respectively.

In the drawings like characteristics of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure.

1 is the main body portion of the envelope. 2 and 2x the side flaps. 3is the top la'p of the envelope which is not quite as high as the mainbody portion and has -a gummed portion 4 along the longitudinal edgeseparated by a perforated line 7. The senders return address is printedor otherwise placed on the back of said flap. 5 is the botom flap yoverthe bottom Hap and seal with a stamp Serial No. 315,962.

of the envelope which, is not as large as the main body portion of theenvelope, and is preferably cut with a curved edge extending from end toend and terminating at the ends of the portion 1 so that there will beno corners and a postage stamp 6 may beused for sealing purposes inconnection therewith as shown in Fig. 4, the ap 5 having the sendingaddress placed upon its back.

Vhen the envelope is to be used it is opened out as shown in Fig..1. Thesender being the first person to use the envelope, if it is to beunsealed, folds down the top flap 3 as shown in Fig. 2. The flaps 2x and2 are next folded over, then the bottom Hap 5, having any sendingaddress placed upon its back, is folded over the end flaps, exposingtheaddress on the outside of the envelope, asin Fig. 4. It is not necessaryto seal t isiap 5 because being neither the same size or shape as thebody 1 of the envelope or of the end aps, a portion of the underlyingpart remains uncovered and" a postage stamp placed as indicated at 6Fig. 2 illustrates the first step in folding to adhere to the bottom Hapand to one or both of the underlying end flaps serves to efectivelyclose the envelope for mailing. If the sender desires to seal theenvelope he may first fold in the end flaps, then fold the top' flapthereover without sealing same, then Afold placed to extend overy theedge of the bottom llhen the person to whom the envelope is addressedreceives it, he opens it by breaking the stamp. Then having read theinformation printed on the inside of the envelope or containedl therein,he places the cheque or note on the main body portion, and then refoldthe envelope as indicated n Figs. 5, 6 and 7, utilizing the gummedsurface 4 in sealing. 90 The envelope is. then opened by breaking theHap 3 along the line of perforation 7, avoiding tearing the main body ofthe top flap 3. If it be desirable-to return a receipt to the partyremitting, the envelope is folded as indicated in Figures 8, 9 and 10and a postage stamp applied as shown seals the envelope, or if sealingis not necessary the flap 3 may be folded in first and covered by theend flaps 100 V'als andthe cured by a stamp.

The envelope as described is extremely i simple to make, requiring butone sealing surface while the method of addressing, folding and sealingallow it to take the place of three envelopes and an enclosure such asare used in customary routine, providing also by this method of foldingthe option of mailing the missive sealed or unsealed thus allowing'forfconsiderable saving in postage as well as labor and material.` Itprovides, in addiv tion at all times, a perfectly flat, plain back`which may be utilized as an advertising medium. v

What I claim as my invention is l 1. A three way envelope comprising a.paper sheet having a top flap folded inwardly and having a returnaddress space on the back thereof, a pair of end flaps folded inywardlyto overlap each other and overlying the top iap, a bottom flap toreceive the primary addressfolded to cover a portion onlyof theoverlapping portions of said end flaps, and a seal separably connectingsaid bottom and end flaps leaving the envelope unsealed.

2. three way envelope comprising a paper sheet having a top flap foldedinwardly and formed with a separable strip gummed on the inside, saidHap having a return addressspace on the back, a pair of vend flapsfolded inwardlyand overlapping each other at the ends, an,l ungummedbottom fla folded to cover a portion only of the over apping portions ofthe end aps, and a seal separably connecting said bottom and end flapsleaving the envelope unsealed;

3a three way envelope comprising a paper sheet having a rectangularmessage y space, a top flap adapted to fold inwardly over said messagespace and havin a return address on its outward side, a pair ofend flapsadapted to fold over and com letely cover said message space on said topap, a bottom ap of lesser area than said overlapping end liaps adaptedto fold thereover leaving a portion thereof uncovered and having anaddress space on the outer side, and separate means for sealing saidbottom flap to secure the p envelope sealed or unsealed.

4. A three way envelope as claimed in' claim 1 in which the top Hap isada ted to be folded over the infolded end and ottoni flaps and sealedto the bottom flap to form a sealed envelp.

TI-IO S MITFORD MOORE.

bottom flap folded thereover and se-

